[Congressional Record Volume 150, Number 93 (Thursday, July 8, 2004)]
[Senate]
[Pages S7821-S7823]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Printing Office [www.gpo.gov]
LOCAL LAW ENFORCEMENT ACT OF 2003
Mr. SMITH. Mr. President, I rise today to speak about the need for
hate crimes legislation. On May 1, 2003, Senator Kennedy and I
introduced the Local Law Enforcement Enhancement Act, a bill that would
add new categories to current hate crimes law, sending a signal that
violence of any kind is unacceptable in our society.
On November 20, 1995, a young transsexual woman named Chanelle Picket
was beaten severely and then strangled to death after leaving a gay bar
in downtown Boston.
I believe that Government's first duty is to defend its citizens, to
defend them against the harms that come out of hate. The Local Law
Enforcement Enhancement Act is a symbol that can become substance. I
believe that by passing this legislation and changing current law, we
can change hearts and minds as well.
Mrs. FEINSTEIN. Mr. President, I offer into the Record my statement
of support of S. 2548, private relief legislation to provide lawful
permanent residence status to Shigeru Yamada, a 22-year-old Japanese
national who lives in Chula Vista, CA.
I have decided to offer private relief legislation on his behalf
because I believe that Shigeru Yamada represents a model American
citizen for whom removal from this country would represent an unfair
hardship. Without this legislation, Mr. Yamada will be forced to return
to a country in which he lacks any linguistic, cultural or family ties.
Mr. Yamada legally entered the United States with his mother and two
sisters in 1992 at the young age of 10. The family was fleeing from Mr.
Yamada's alcoholic father, who had been physically abusive to his
mother, the children and even his own parents. Since the, he has had no
contact with his father and is unsure if he is even alive. Tragically,
Mr. Yamada experienced further hardship when his mother was killed in a
car crash in 1995. Orphaned at the age of 13, Mr. Yamada spent time
living with his aunt before moving to Chula Vista to live with a close
friend of his late mother.
The death of his mother marked more than a personal tragedy for
Shigeru Yamada; it also served to impede the process for him to
legalize his status here. At the time of her death, Mr. Yamada's family
was living legally in the United States. His mother had acquired a
student visa for herself and her children qualified as her dependents.
Her death revoked his legal status in the United States. Tragically,
Mr. Yamada's mother was engaged to an American citizen at the time of
her death. Had she survived, her son would likely have become an
American citizen through this marriage.
Mr. Yamada has exhausted his options under our current immigration
system of the United States. Throughout high school, he contacted
attorneys in the hopes of becoming a citizen. Unfortunately, time has
run out and, for Mr. Yamada, the only option available to him today is
private relief legislation.
For several reasons, it would be tragic for Mr. Yamada to be removed
from the United States and sent to Japan.
First, since arriving in the United States, Mr. Yamada has lived as a
model American. He graduated with honors form Eastlake High School in
2000, where he excelled in both academics and athletics. Academically,
Mr. Yamada earned a number of awards including being named an
``Outstanding English Student'' his freshman year, an All-American
Scholar, and earning the United States National Minority Leadership
Award. His teacher and coach, Mr. John Inumerable, describes him as
being ``responsible, hard working, organized, honest, caring and very
dependable.'' His role as the vice president of the Associated Student
Body his senior year is an indication of Mr. Yamada's high level of
leadership, as well as, his popularity and trustworthiness among his
peers. As an athlete, Mr. Yamada was named the ``Most Inspirational
Player of the Year'' in junior varsity baseball and football, as well
as, varsity football. His football coach, Mr. Jose Mendoza, expressed
his admiration by saying that he has ``seen in Shigeru Yamada the
responsibility, dedication and loyalty that the average American holds
to be virtuous.''
Second, Mr. Yamada has distinguished himself as a local volunteer. As
a member of the Eastlake High School Link Crew, Mr. Yamada helped
freshmen find their way around campus, offered tutoring and mentoring
services, and set an example of how to be a successful member of the
student body.
[[Page S7822]]
Since graduating from high school, he has volunteered his time as the
coach of the Eastlake High School girl's softball team. The head coach,
Mr. Charles Sorge, describes him as an individual full of ``integrity''
who understands that as a coach it is important to work as a ``team
player.'' His level of commitment to the team was further illustrated
to Mr. Sorge when he discovered, halfway through the season, that Mr.
Yamada's commute to and from practice was 2 hours long each way. It
takes an individual with character to volunteer his time to coach and
never bring up the issue of how long his commute takes him each day.
Mr. Sorge hopes that, once Mr. Yamada legalizes his status, he can be
formally hired to continue coaching the team.
Third, sending Mr. Yamada back to Japan would be an immense hardship
for him and his family. Mr. Yamada does not speak Japanese. He is
unaware of the nation's current cultural trends. And, he has no
immediate family members that he knows of in Japan. Currently, both of
his sisters are in the process of gaining American citizenship. His
older sister has married a United States citizen and his younger sister
is being adopted by a maternal aunt. Since all of his family lives in
California, sending Mr. Yamada back to Japan would serve to split his
family apart and separate him from everyone and everything that he
knows. His sister contends that her younger brother would be ``lost''
if he had to return to live in Japan on his own. It is unlikely that he
would be able to find any gainful employment in Japan due to his
inability to speak or read Japanese.
As a member of the Chula Vista community, Mr. Yamada has
distinguished himself as an honorable individual. His teacher, Mr.
Robert Hughes, describes him as being an ``upstanding `All-American'
young man''. Until being picked up during a routine check of his
immigration status on a city bus, he had never been arrested or
convicted of any crime. Mr. Yamada is not, and has never been, a burden
on the State. He has never received any Federal or State assistance.
Currently, Mr. Yamada is a sophomore at Southwestern Community
College, where he is working on finishing his general education so that
he can go on to earn his BA in criminal justice from San Diego State
University. Mr. Yamada's commitment to his education is admirable. He
could have easily taken a different path but, through his own
individual fortitude, he has dedicated himself to his studies so that
he can live a better life. In the future, Mr. Yamada is interested in
pursuing a career in criminal law enforcement by serving as a police
officer or an FBI agent.
With his hard work and giving attitude, Shigeru Yamada represents the
ideal American citizen. Although born in Japan, he is truly American in
every other sense. I ask you to help right a wrong and grant Mr. Yamada
permanent status so that he can continue towards his bright future.
I ask unanimous consent three letters of recommendation be printed in
the Record.
There being no objection, the material was ordered to be printed in
the Record, as follows:
Eastlake High School,
Chula Vista, CA, May 21, 2004.
Hon. Dianne Feinstein,
U.S. Senator.
I am writing to bring to your attention the need to support
a fine young man, Shigeru Yamada. I am a teacher and coach at
Eastlake High School; I have known Shigeru for 8 years, both
as a student and as a volunteer coach during the last 5
years. What has singularly impressed me about this young man
is that he has created himself and never complained about his
life's struggles. His mother died when he was young. He got
little support from his aunt--materially, emotionally,
spiritually. Yet all the while you would not have known that.
He set goals for himself academically and athletically;
modeled himself on good ideals of community service and
service to his school. He was vice-president of the
Associated Student Body at Eastlake High and would have
pursued an academic future at UCLA were it not for his
citizenship status. Instead, he did what he could do and has
gone to community college in an effort to pursue his college
degree.
All the while, he volunteered his time during these past 5
years to help coach our school's softball team (as well as
other sports on campus). It was only recently that I had
discovered that it would take him 2 hours with bus transfers
just to get to softball practice.
I provide this information to you as a testimonial to the
character of this young man. Exceptional in attitude and
determination. We need this kind of spirit and resolve in
America. We do not want to export it somewhere else. Please
help.
Respectfully,
Charles R. Sorge, EdD,
English Teacher and Head Softball Coach.
____
Edminster Learning Center,
Eastlake High School,
Chula Vista, CA, April 23, 2001.
To Mr. Bob Filner:
I'm honored to write this letter for Shigeru Yamada. I have
known Shigeru since 1997. A very energetic, bright young man
whose personal charge and get after if attitude toward
accomplishing his goals, have no equal. A person who
personifies the notion of a ``hard charger.''
As an Instructional aide and Varsity Football coach I have
earned great admiration toward Shigeru's work ethic. While in
high school, Shigeru received academic honors as an All-
American Scholar ('99), United States National Minority
Leadership Award ('99 & '00), the National Honor Roll ('00),
Golden State Awards, and Who's Who Among High School Students
('98-'00). His commitment toward his duties goes with out
question. He managed to be a member of the Associative
Student Body. Here he received a Presidential Award ('00),
ASB Leadership Award ('00), and Eastlake High School ASB Life
Membership Award ('00).
Through his many academic accomplishments Shigeru managed
to dedicate himself to many extra curricular activities, such
as Football, Baseball, and Wrestling. Other activities
included, the Boys Choir (The ``E'' Males), AVID (Advancement
via Individual Determination), and Link Crew (assisting
incoming freshmen).
Through my personal experiences as a squad leader in the
United States Army (Infantry) and Department Head at Home
Depot. I have seen in Shigeru Yamada the responsibility,
dedication and loyalty that the average American holds to be
virtuous.
So with great appreciation please endorse a Bill, so that
Shigeru Yamada can stay in the United States and become a
patriotic citizen.
Sincerely,
Jose Mendoza,
Instructional Aide.
____
Eastlake High School,
Chula Vista, CA.
To Whom It May Concern:
I would like to write this letter of recommendation on
behalf of Shigeru Yamada for his outstanding contributions to
Eastlake High School and the Eastlake Community. I have been
closely tied to Shigeru for approximately 2 years as teacher,
coach, and as a friend. Throughout his years at Eastlake High
School, Shigeru has participated successfully in many extra-
curricular activities and has earned the respect and
admiration from staff members, fellow students and the
surrounding community. Shigeru has developed into an
outstanding performer in Eastlake's football, wrestling and
baseball programs. He is strongly admired for his
sportsmanship, work ethic and most of all his natural ability
as a team leader. For his efforts, Shigeru was recognized for
athletic and academic achievements by being selected to the
1998-99 San Diego Union Tribune All-Academic Wrestling Team.
Although Shigeru spends much of his time with competitive
sports, he always finds time to help other students in need.
Shigeru is an active participant with the Eastlake Link Crew.
This organization was established to assist our ninth graders
with finding their way around campus, learning school
traditions, tutoring, mentoring, monitoring academic progress
and setting examples of how to be a successful member of our
campus environment. Academically, Shigeru excels in the
mathematics and is presently taking Honors Pre-Calculus while
carrying a 3.8 overall Grade Point Average. In addition,
Shigeru is an active member in the AVID (Advancement Via
Individual Achievement) program. This program helps our
students develop academic skills that are beneficial for them
when they attend college. Shigeru is also a member of the
Associated Student Body. The ASB is the bloodline of our
campus. This outstanding group of students work endless hours
organizing pep assemblies and lunchtime activities, sells
concessions at all extra-curricular events and assist in all
campus elections and dances as well as providing support
services for faculty and staff members. In several
conversations, I have discovered that Shigeru has a strong
interest in the field of Physical Therapy with an emphasis in
Sports Medicine. I strongly believe that Shigeru is capable
of reaching his goals because he is highly motivated,
conscientious and extremely competent.
It is very easy to praise Shigeru for his personal
achievements, but I think his personality is what makes him a
great human being. Shigeru is responsible, hard working,
organized, honest, caring and very dependable. On a daily
basis, Shigeru volunteers his time selling concessions during
nutrition break and lunch hour for the ASB food services.
This job holds Shigeru accountable for large sums of money,
an accurate account of inventories and timely service. Very
few students have been trusted with this major
responsibility. Another word that describes Shigeru is
resiliency. Within the past couple of years Shigeru lost both
of his parents in a tragic automobile accident. Consequently,
[[Page S7823]]
this sad episode has left a permanent impression on Shigeru.
Fortunately, Shigeru has overcome this tragedy and has
maintained a standard for other young people to follow.
Shigeru has proven to me that life is too important to waste
and to enjoy every moment by being an active member of
society, not just a spectator.
Sincerely,
John Inumerable.
____________________